Ask Dr. Root: How to Theme Notification Items Using MetaMorph

*Please make a backup before proceeding. (As always this comes with risk. Droid Life is not responsible for dead phones, ruined marriages, etc.)

*This should work for most rooted android devices, but be sure to read comments and warnings wherever you get your meta-morph zips from.

Today, I wanted to change a couple of notification items on my Droid X while running Bgill’s Incognito, which for the most part I love. Seeing as I can’t theme to save my life, I needed a quick and easy way to make changes. Yes, I know I could just flash an update.zip but the changes I wanted were one or 2 things and didnt feel like changing the whole theme just for that.

I decided to dig out MetaMorph which is a program that has been around for quite some time and is probably overlooked.

The picture below contains a circular battery and WiFi antenna which were themed using MetaMorph. The first picture is the before and the second picture is the after:

To use MetaMorph you need to install busybox as well. (Links above) Using MetaMorph is pretty straight forward, but first you’ll need to find a MetaMorph zip that pertains to what you want to theme and download it to your SD card. (I found a bunch using Google search.) Once you find something to them and the file, move the zip to the AndroidThemes folder on your SD card. If you do not have a folder named “AndroidThemes” then creating one is just fine. Open up MetaMorph and it will ask to run some checks which you’ll have to let finish before moving on to the “extract zip button.” The next screen should contain the MetaMorph file. When you tap on the file, it will ask you if you want to proceed and warns you that the phone may reboot during the process(which it will.) When the phone reboots you should now have your newly themed notification item.

Yes, there are different ways to theme, but I wanted to put this out there for those wanting to try their hand at it. I found this to be a very simple and effective way to make small theme changes. You are not limited to just notification items, There are lock screen mods and more, you are only limited by the amount of time your willing to spend with it.

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How do you use busybox, & why should i downloadit? Can someone get back to me thank you.

Bgs_piece

If I used Metamorph to install a transparent notification bar and I want to go back to stock, can I just replace the framework-res.apk file using root explorer and then reboot or do I have to use an emulator to push the file back? I am rooted with stock rom running the OTA froyo for the droid x. Any help is greatly appreciated!

doctordoctor

Beware that metamorph doesn't play nice with all roms

Mike_ster57

can anyone help me root? tried using Superoneclick cant get it to work. i just want to overclock my droid 1.

No problem glad you liked it and easier than explaining framework res.

josh1980

What did you search to find the metamorph zip on google to use?

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